Railroad spreader



H, 1 2-, BBESSLEB.

RAILROAD SPBEADEH. APPLICAUQN Engg om, 6.1919.v

Patented Dec.. 5,1%?.

3 SHEETS-.SHED I,

R. E. BRESSLER.

RAILROAD SPREADER. APPLICATION man ocr. 6,1939.

Patente Dec. 5, E922,

R. E. BRESSLEH.

RAILROAD SPREADER.

APPLICATION FILED DCT. 6 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I Patented Dec. 5, 1922,

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

Unirse smarts;- j

Piraat orarcs.`

ROBERT-n. BREssi-.Eef orfjiiairivionn; INDIANA; Assien'onftroo; F. JonDANco'MPANY; 0FA EA'srrfCHIGAGO, INDJZANA; A conrcenfrion foFfINDIANAf.

`R'AIiinoan SPREADER.

T o allv 1lb/mm 'it mag/concerm-- Be it known that I, RonnRrE. Bnessiinn,`

i. e. a carhavingwings adapted to. sp;read or distribute materials. alongthe. sides of therails, itis often tounddesirable to perform certa-ini other operationsv alongthe,

right ofiway, suchhforexample, asthe formingoiia ditch. It is convenient tolcarryjv machinery for such purposes uponthe floor of the car..

It is an objectot my invention to proJ vide an improved. railroad'` spreader. adaptT edito run on a railroad trackz and which shallbe'provided With wingsor. spreaders` that shallbe verticallj7 and laterally. adjustable in order to perform the Workf in aconvenient and expeditious manner; L and. which shallbe ofrsuch construction` thatr disposition thereof on the car can beso madethat the floor of. thecarrshall be free rfor the purpose off carrying any otherl apparatus that may be desired.

Frthei objects of invention are .to provide means ot operating the spreader Wings and for holding and lockingthem in desired operativeA position. Y

It is also an object of my inventionY to provide mechanism, ofthe; above character,

k shown.

Application.-1ed.0ctoberr6, 1919. Serial No. 328,854.

at the presenttime, :to be thebest embodi ment thereof.

In said-drawingsz- Y Fig. l isaplan yviewot one. end of railroad spreader embodyingmy invention.4

Fig. 2, is an enlarged. elevationof. the;

mechanism shown inl Fig.- l..

Fig. 3, .sv affragmentary plan vieWof-the mechanism for swinging the: spreader.y Wings to and from the` car and for holding; them,

in desired placed position.` f

Fig. 4, is anelevation of.the,mechanism1 shown in Fig, 3.

Fig. 5, isan endv elevation ofv the. mecha@- nism-shown in Figs. Sfand 4f; and` i Fign is a detailsectional view-'substan-y tialljy on the line 6--6 of: Fig. 4. In general appearance! ,my

alikeonl1yl one. end portion of thev car is car isnsed forrrailroad"purposesand that in ordinaryy practice, a locomotive is` used..

for movingjthe spreader along: the vtrack .and as thecar is. propelled, the Wingsoperate to spreadA or distributematerial alongv thek sides of the rails. Itshould;also beunderstoodthat the Wings `on onesori bothsides ofv the .car may be usedv independently or; simultaneously in accordanceA with the Work, to beY performed, .but since. `.the construction, arrangement and mode of: operation of the; spreader wingupon one. side of the car lis like runto that upon. theotherrside, a description of one Wing andy its operating mechanism will suflice,for. both..

The car ma)7 begeonsti'ucted. of4 metal or. Woodv orV in, any approved. ina-nner.,

Referringto' the. drawings, I. represents the carl trucks, l2f the rails. and' 3, the carv under.. trame.. I. shallnot describe, they under frame indetailexcelpt tos'ay-that it isi rigidll trame? Work.. preferably formed'. ofi

metal.A and* upon vv-liicliY the floor 4; can be:

co'ni'enientlyv laidikUpon they floor of the car, andv extending longitudinallyl thereoir along its sides, I have mounted.channelmem bers-5 andAv upon which, ifidesiredanechanism can. be. mounted for` movementV4 long iF tudinally of the'.` car. Inasmuch as, this' mechanism4 may bev off standard'. or desired construction@ itf,.li'as;: not' been'. illustrated nor.:

will itjbe described,y I.' might' mention,.how-

K railroad'v spreader resemblesk an ordinary. flat` cark but. masmuchasxbothends are alike or may'be,

`75 t should be understood1 that, the.

CIK

ever, that the car is adapted to support what is known as a ditcher, being a machine adapted to the digging of ditches along the right of way, and for its convenient operation, being provided with wheels whereby the machine may move longitudinally of the car, using the channel members 5 and 6 as rails. This statement, l wish to be considered by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. Secured in a vertical position at the side of the car and near the end, thereof, will be found a vertical column 7, which is provided with groove 8 for guiding the` wing post, 9.r The wing post 9 is provided at its outer end with parts 10 which co-operate with the hinge plate 1l, of the wing, to form` a vertical pivot which the pivot pin 12 completes. The heavy hinge plate 11 is suitably secured to the spreader. wing` 13, which, during the operation of the car, serves to spread or displace the material along the road bed. Various conditions of road bed construction require that the spreader wing 13 be positionerl at different elevations. The requirements also include the positioning` of the wing at different distances from the side of the car, i. e. require that the wing be disposed at different angles. As the car is propelled and the wing 13 comes into contact with the material to be spread, a great force operates to close the wing and it becomes necessary, therefore, to provide very rigid and substantial bracing members for transmitting the force to the car under frame. At the same time these braces must be of such character as to permit the raising, lowering and swinging movement of the wing.

The `wing 13 and the parts connected thereto are of very heavy and substantial construction and will fall of their own weight. I, therefore, depend upon gravity for lowering the wing and provide only for the raisingthereof.

For raising the wing I provide an air engine let, the piston rod 15, ofwhich is connected to one end 16, of the rope or cable 17. The rope or cable 17 passes over suitable sheaves 18, 19 and 2Q, and the other end 21 is attached to the spreader wing 13, as by means of a bracket 22. lWhen air is applied to the engine 14 the piston rod 15 moves from the extended position shown on the near side ofthe car in Fig. 1 to the position shown on the other side in Fig. 1, thus causing the elevation of the spreader wing, the post 9 sliding upwardly in the column 7 as before stated. To lower the wing, it is but necessary to let it fall by gravity. For` placed position is arranged below the car. The mechaniszn is of unique construction. Depending from the car under frame and transversely positioned of the car, I provide a` plurality of -beams 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28. The I-beams 23 and 26, 24: and 27, 25 and 28 are in vertical alignment and are spaced somewhat apart. The upper I- beams are securedin the sills of the car and. the lower ones are supported upon a substructure 29. Mounted for sliding movement between the 'lf-beams 23 and 21.1-, and between the I-beams 26 and 27 will be found cross heads 30, and 31 which cross heads are secured together for simultaneous move-` ment by means of a vertical connecting plate 32. Secured to the vertical plate 32 and arranged for sliding movement in angle members 33 and 3a carried, respectively by the I-beams 23 and 26, will be found a long rack-like member 35. Along one side the rack 35 is provided with a depressed gear` rack 36 for engagement with the teeth of the gear wheel 37. On the opposite side the gear wheel 37 meshes with a rack member 38 which is fixed to the car against movenient. Mounted transversely of the car and in line with the gear wheel 37 will be found an air engine 39, the piston rod 40 of which, at its outer end, is connected to the gear wheel 37. The connection is a pivotal connection such that the gear wheel 37 mayrotate. Thus as the piston rod 40 moves from the inward position, its innermost position being, a position corresponding to that shown for the mechanism operating the wing on the far side of the car to the position shown on the near side of the car, the member 35 is moved from a position at the far side of the car to a` position in which it projects slightly outwardly from the inner side of the car as shown in Fig. 1.

ln other words, as the gear wheel 37 is moved outwardly by the piston rod 14: andy at the same time rolls upon the rack 38, a movement equal to twice, the movement of the piston rod is given to the membery 35. Such movement of the member 35, obviously moves the cross-heads 30 and 31 a corresponding distance. The connected crossheads 30 and 31 are operatively connected to the spreader wing 13 by means of bracing members or struts 41 and 42 which struts, in the present instance, take the form of I-beams having, at their ends, hooks 13, which are suitably curved to permit placement in receiving brackets and at the same time permit the braces to swing from the downwardly eX'- tending angular position, in which they repose when the wing 13 is at work, to the horizontal position in which they are positioned for swinging movement of the wing to and from the car and while the wing is at rest in inoperative position-` along the 'side QUI (notshown) Whichmay be placed atany desired position under-the car. y

Then the Wingis in inoperative position or at rest, as shown inthe far side oi the carin Fig. L the wing 13 is inits uppermost positioniandithe bracing struts 41 and .42 are dislnoseddny a horizontal position under the can To place thelwinginto operative position ras shown in Fig.p2,and on the nearsideoi the carin `lig. l, air is applied` to ,move `the ,piston `rod awayfroni the air engineivhich moves the braces 41 and 42 from'aposition completelyunder the carto one completelyontside of thecar but still in ashorizontal position. Therea'fterthe Wing may be dropped to desired position. The -replacement of the Wing from operative positionk to inoperative position is substantially a `reversal of the above operationexcept that the Wing. is' positively lifted by-means oftheair engine 14. lVhen the Wing isinits operative position it,is.necessary to hold the cross-headsv 30 and 31 againstvmovement as,they take the `:thrust ofthe Wing.y ,Tofthis end I lprovide avlock-y mechanism .which comprises a rod 45 trans-y verselyf, positioned of=the caimand which is supportedinmembjers 46` (seeFig. 6) for sliding-L movement. Forthepurpose of slidf ably moving the rod 45 I a hand lever .47 :is provided at lhthe `sidey of `the car. The rod 45 `is oi'setas is shown,a't48,and mounted in Vthe member ,46 will be found asliding block 49.` Then Athe `rod `45 ismovedto the right, the block 49 is Withdrawn to a position flush With the face 46y otthelmember 46 and `When the rod `45 y is, moved in the op-k posits direction the block 49 is projected to the position shown iny Fig. 6. Inthemove-r ment ofthe cross-heads,transversely of the,vr

car the connecting plate 32 slidesin intimaterelation to the face46 :and lWhen the cross-heads have reached. Ithe-desired posi-` tion the rod 45 is .shifted to the position.

shown in Fig. '6,tlins shifting` theblocli 49 behind the plate. 32 yso that the plate ,and cross-heads are prevented .from sliding inwardly. ,y .y

As .it may be ydesired toJlock the crossheads :at-different points in' orderl that the wing may be locked at dierentdistanees from the side of thecar. several of tlielocl'- ing blocks 49 are provided and the rod 45 isprovided Awith severalspaced offsetportions I48A for actuating the respective blocks.

The construct-ion and operation beinggthe" ;-sameynoffnrther statement `will be. necessary.r

lt should ,be noted ythat the mechanism :tor operating the Wings upon .both sides oi the car is arranged in compact relationand thatcertain ofthe parts necessary for the operationzotone `Wing serve also asa part ot the structure it'or' operating the other Wing. For example thel central I-beams Q4 andzQ'T: serve as yguides orithe, cross-heads utilized for operating both Wings. c i

The mechanism shown is simple, positive, and din'ablef; it is-all so positioned'fasto leave the upperpart of the car `free for an7 use that may; be desired; it 'isi positioned entirely nnder the car when 'the Wings are closed so thatthe carmay be operated along` the right of way Without .the necessity of the removal :of Aany parts, and that the Wings can be operated by the mere turning of an air valve, thus rmaking the car as a Whole substantially automatic yin `its Oper# ation. f l

inasmuch as this disclosure Vwill readily suggest to others modified structures Where# by the substantial objects j and purposesof my invention may be attained I do not Wish to be limited to the specific construction landl arrangement herein 'shown anddescribed, except only as 4may be necessary bylimitations in the hereunto appended,claims.-y Iclaim: A j y,

l. yThe :improvements herein described comprisinga car in combination with a Wing having its inner end pivote'd `thi-reto'and Wing-swinging and holdingmeans,disposed under the car, yWhen'the Wingisin inoperative position said means including an' oper-` ating brace connected tothewingand of a length approximately the ividth of thefear, n 2. The improvements herein described comprisingva car in combination Witha Wing yhaving its inner endpivoted theretoy al Wing| least equal to one-half the'width of -the car,

and means for disposingv said Abrace :under the car.

3l: The e having its inner end pivoted theretma Wing sivmging and holding brace, means for disposing said -brace'under the car, and means formovingfit to swing the from the vcai", said brace occupying an angularposi,`

tion withrespect to tie side of the car when the brace .is in extendedxposition. n

4. rlhe. improvements herein described comprising car inicombination with a Wing having its inner `end pivoted theretr a Wing-swinging and'holding-.braca` means Q5, The improvements herein y described n f improvements herein describedycomprising a car in combination with a Wing Cfr comprising acai in combination with-a wing havinO" its inner end rivoted thereto. wing L i e swinging and holding means and means for raising the wing, all positioned under the car when the wing is in inoperative posi-L n and holding brace in distended position beingangularly disposed with respect to the side of the car, means for disposing said brace under the car, and means for raising said wing. Y I

7. The improvements 'herein described comprising a car in combination with a wing having its inner end pivotally attached y toand vertically movable at the side ot the car, `and wing swinging and `holding` means disposed under the cai' when the wing is in inoperative position -said means includm` ing a brace transversely disposed under the car in one position and extending angularly therefrom in another position.

8..The improvements herein 'described comprising a car in combination with the wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding/"brace, and means for disposing said brace under `and transversely' oi the car said means inclntii ing a member slidable transierseiyT ot the car substantially the width thereof and to whichV said braceis attached; l

9. The improvements" herein described comprising a car iii combination with wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace and means for disposing said brace under and transversely oft the "car, said means including aiXed gear rack, a movable gear rack to which one end of said brace is connected, and a gear wheel interposed between and meshing with the fined and movable gear racks, together with-means for causing the` gear wheel to roll on the xedraclr.

10. The improvements herein described comprising a car in combination with the wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace.,` and means for disposing said brace under and transversely kof the car, said means including a crosshead, to which one end of said brace is secured, crosshead guides, and means for causing sliding movement of said crosshead.

` 11. The improvements herein described comprising a Acar in combination with the wing having 'its inner end pivoted thereto, a4 wing swinging and holding` brace and --means for disposing said brace under and iframes transversely ot the car, said means including a crosshead, towhich one end or' said brace is secured, crosshead guides, V'andA an air engine operatively connected tovcause reciprocatory movement oi said 'cross head whereby desired swinginginovement ot the wing is effected.l

12. The improvements herein described comprising a car in combination with the wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace, and means for disposing said brace underl and transversely of the car, said means including a crosshead, to which one end oit said brace is secured, crosshead guides, an' air engine having `a pistion and piston rodand means operatively connecting the piston rod to the crosshead, said means being formed to cause movement of the crossheadsequal to twice vthe movement 'of the piston.

13.' The improvements herein described comprising va car inr combination"v with the wing having its innerA end pivoted'thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace, and meansior disposing said brace undervand transversely of the car, said means including a crosshead, to which one end of said brace is secured, crosshead guides, means for causing sliding movement of said crosshead, and means for locking the lcrosshead against movement. f

iet. The improvements herein described comprising a car in combination -with the wingl having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging yand holding brace, and means for disposing said brace underand transversely of the car, said means including a crosshead, to which one end of said' brace lis secured, crosshead guides, an air engine operatively connected to causereciprocatory movement of said crossheads whereby desired swinging movement ofthe wingv can be effected, and means torlocking the crosshead against movement.

`15.' The improvements herein 'described comprising a car inv combination with theV wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, aI wing swinging and holding brace, andv means for disposingsaid brace underand transversely or' the car, said means includ ing a crosshead, to which one end of said brace is secured, crosshead guides, and an air engine havingl 'a piston and piston rod and ineans operativel connectino the iston rod to the crosshead, said means being formed to cause movement of the crossheads equal to twice the movement of thev piston,

and means Jfor locking ythe crosshead against movement.

16, rThe improvements herein described.

swinging and holding means, disposed une,

der the'car, when the wing is in inoperative position, said means including a brace of a length approximating the width of the car, and' means for locking the wing swinging and holding means against movement.

17. The improvements herein described comprising a car in combination with a wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace, means for disposing said brace under the car and substantially transversely thereof and for moving it outwardly and angularly, and means for locking the wing swinging and holding brace against movement.

18. The improvements herein described comprising a car in combination with a wing having' its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace, and means for disposing said brace transversely oi' the car, said means including a xed gear rack, a movab-le gear rack to which one end of said brace is connected, and a gear wheel interposed between and meshing with the fixed and movable gear racks, together with means `tor causing the gear wheel to roll on the fixed rack.

19. The improvements herein described comprising a car in combination with the wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace, and means for disposing of said brace transversely of the car, said means including a crosshead, to which one end of said brace is secured, crosshead guides, and mea-ns ior causing sliding .movement of said crosshead.

20. rlhe improvements herein described comprising a car in combination with the wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace, and means for disposing said brace transversely of the car, said means including a crosshead, to which one end of said brace is secured, crosshead guides, and an air engine operatively connected to cause reciprocatory movement of said cross head whereby desired swinging movement of the wing is effected.

21. The improvements herein 'described comprising a car in combination with the wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace, and means Jfor disposing said brace transversely of the car, said means including a crosshead, to which one end of said brace is secured, crosshead guides, an air engine having a piston and piston rod and means operatively connecting the piston rod to the crosshead, said means being formed to cause greater movement of the crosshead than of the piston.

22. The improvements herein described comprising a car in combination with the wing having its' inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace, and means for disposing said brace transversely of the car, said means including a. crosshead, to which one end of said brace is secured, crosshead guides, means for causing sliding movement of said crosshead, and means for vlocking the crosshead against movement.

23. The improvements herein described comprising a car in combination with the wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace, and means for disposing said brace transversely of the car, said means including a crosshead, to which one end of said brace is secured, crosshead guides, an air engine operatively connected to cause reciprocatory movement of said crosshead whereby desired swinging movement of the wing can be effected, and means for locking the crosshead against movement.

24. The improvements herein described comprising a car in comb-ination'with the wing having its inner end pivoted thereto, a wing swinging and holding brace, and means for disposing said brace transversely of the car, said means including a crosshead, to which one end of said brace is secured, crosshead guides, and an air engine having a piston and piston rod, and means operatively connecting the piston rod to t-he crosshead, said means being formed to cause movement of the crosshead equal to twice the movement oi' the piston, and means for locking the crosshead against movement.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 30 dav of September, 1919.

RUBRT E. BR-ESSLER. 

